Release date: 4th May 2018
I always look forward to new material from the excellent Fear Of Domination since first coming across their third album Distorted Delusions a few years back. Metanoia is another solid bit of work from the Finnish industrial outfit.
Like with their previous effort Atlas, Metanoia doesn’t immediately grab you on your first listen, as opening track Dance With The Devil is one of the weaker songs of the album. However, it’s definitely worth sticking with Metanoia because after a shaky start, things soon pick up. Fourth track, Sick And Beautiful, is a very powerful inclusion with a very in-your-face approach throughout and the amount of energy to the song is absolutely magnificent. Meanwhile later track The Last Call (previously revealed as a single at the start of the year) is another highlight. The vocals in this are especially good, with the chorus being a serious earworm, and it’s just one of those tracks that will stay with you a long time after you’ve finished listening to it.
Indeed, the vocals as a whole are especially strong on Metanoia. There’s more of a focus on the female vocals courtesy of Sara Strömmer, who makes her debut on this album (previously the female vocals were looked after on a guest/session basis by Helena Haaparanta) and it adds more of a melodic vibe to the music, coupling nicely with the electronic lines whilst the harsh vocals from Saku Solin juxtaposes well against them whilst simultaneously pairing well with the heavier elements of the instrumentation.
All in all, Fear Of Domination’s fifth album is another great piece from this talented band – and I for one can’t wait to finally witness their live spectacle in June at Nummirock!
8.5/10
